6 days in Lisbon

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum! If you don’t already have a guidebook (check our your local library), you can get started by reviewing recommendations from Rick Steves here: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal/lisbon

▲▲▲ Alfama Stroll and the Castle Tangled medieval streets topped by São Jorge Castle.

▲▲▲ Baixa Stroll The lower town — Lisbon's historic downtown — gridded with streets and dotted with major squares.

▲▲▲ Bairro Alto and Chiado Stroll The high town's views, churches, and Chiado fashion district.

▲▲ Gulbenkian Museum Lisbon's best museum, featuring an art collection spanning 5,000 years, from ancient Egypt to Impressionism to Art Nouveau. Closed for renovation until July 2026.

▲▲ Museum of Ancient Art Portuguese paintings from the 15th- and 16th-century glory days.

▲ Fado Museum The story of Portuguese folk music.

▲ São Roque Church and Museum Fine 16th-century Jesuit church with false dome ceiling, chapel made of precious stones, and an interesting museum.

▲ Lisbon Cathedral From the outside, an impressive Romanesque fortress of God; inside, not much.

▲ Aljube Museum of Resistance and Freedom Exhibits documenting fascist António Salazar's rise to power, housed in a former prison building.

▲ Mouraria District Historic Moorish quarter turned buzzing international zone with inviting eateries.

▲ National Tile Museum Tons of artistic tiles, including a panorama of pre-earthquake Lisbon.

▲ Parque das Nações Inviting waterfront park with a long promenade, modern mall, aquarium, and the Expo '98 fairgrounds.

▲▲▲ Monastery of Jerónimos King Manuel's giant 16th-century, white limestone church and monastery, with remarkable cloister and the explorer Vasco da Gama's tomb.

▲▲ National Coach Museum Dozens of carriages, from simple to opulent, displaying the evolution of coaches from 1600 on.

▲ Casa Pastéis de Belém Sprawling café and bakery where you can enjoy Lisbon's famous custard tarts where they were first created.

▲ Maritime Museum Salty selection of exhibits on the ships and navigational tools of the Age of Discovery.

▲ Monument to the Discoveries Giant riverside monument honoring the explorers who brought Portugal great power and riches centuries ago.

▲ Belém Tower Consummate Manueline building with a worthwhile view up 120 steps.

Looks like Mary did a thorough and great job.

I spent 4 nights in Lisbon a couple of years back and it was wonderful. I was there the end of October. it was still warm and very rainy. it was also still veey crowded.

Of course you do want to go to Sintra as well as Belem.

Don't be like me and go without knowing very much about Lisbon and the places that you are going to. Learn about Lisbon and places before you go.

I stayed at Be Poet Baixa Hotel on Rua Augusta 220. Great location to walk from one end of street to the other end. Plus wonderful public transportation

My trip report from last year might give you some ideas:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-in-lisbon-portugal-my-trip-report